Automobile starting switch



Filed July 15, 1930 Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES HARVEY n. WADDELL, or CARY, NORTH CAROLINA AUTOMOBILE s'rm'rmo' swrrcn Application filed July 15, 1930. Serial N0. 468,136.

ling devices used in connection with the start-- ing means or systems of automobiles.

In the ordinary starting systems, now in use on automobiles, and especially such systems which employ the Bendix drive, or like structures, the full voltage of the battery is used, when the operator closes the circuit through the starting switch, with the result that the motor gear is rotating at practically full speed when projected into meshing engagement with the toothed periphery of the fly-wheel. Considerabledamage results from this, especially in burning'out the starting switch, or motor, or the vstripping of the motor or fly-wheel gear teeth.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a starting switch, by means of which the starting motor may be started at' a comparatively low voltage so as to properly and safely engage the teeth of the motor gear with the teeth of the fiy-wheel, after which the full voltage is passed through the starting motor to rotate the fly-wheel, and thereby turn over the engine.

Another object is to provide a starting switch by means of which this change of voltage is automaticall accomplished.

Other objects and at vantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a starting switch, made in accordance with the invention, the casing being in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the switch, the casing being in section.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic viewof the wiring.

Referring particularly to the accompanyink drawing, 10 represents the battery,.while 11 represents the starting motor having the Bendix drive associated therewith, which includes the-gear 12 for engagement with the peripheral teeth 13, of the flywheel 14.

Pivotally mounted within a casing 15, is a lever 16, the outer end portion of which,

remote from its pivotal mounting, being formed with a longitudinal slot 17, in which is received the pivot pin 18, which connects the lower end of the vertical plungerrod 19 thereto, said rod extending upwardly through an opening in the upper wall of the casing, where it is provided with head20 for engagement by the foot of theoperator. Carried by the lever 16, and extending from one side thereof, are the three spring arms 21,22, and 23. Mounted in the bottom of the casing 15 are the three contact posts 24, 25, and 26, the former of which being connected with the starting motor 11, while the latter of which is connected with one side of the battery 10. The contact post 24 is connected with the post 25 by means of the resistance element 27, as clearly seen in the drawing. The contact post 25 is located intermediate the posts 24 and 26, as shown. Connected with the lever 16, and with the upper wall of the casing 15, is a spring 28, which normally urges the lever upwardly, so that its spring arms are out of contact with the posts.

It will be particularly noted that the spring arm 21 is disposed in a higher plane than the arms 22 and 23, so that when the lever 16 is swung downwardly, by depressing the plunger rod 19, said arm 21 will not engage with the post 24, until the arms 22 and 23 have engaged the posts 25 and 26, said arms 22 and 23 being in the same plane so as to simultaneously engage said posts 25 and 26. It will be noted that when the arms 22 and 23 engage the posts 25 and 26, that tire current must pass through the resistance 27, thereby cutting down the Voltage to, say three volts. This is accomplished upon the initial downward movement of the lever 16, and upon further downward movement of said lever, the spring arm 21 will engage with the post 24, so that the current will flow around or bridge the resistance, thus causing the full six volts, from the battery to pass through the starting motor. It will, of course, be understood that there is a short interval between the initial and final movements of the switch lever 16, so that the Bendix drive gear will be quickly and safely engaged with the flywheel, before the full current is applied to the starting motor to turn over the engine. Upon lifting the foot from the plunger rod, the spring 28 restores the lever to its upper position, where the spring arms are out of Contact with the posts.

What is claimed is:

In an electrical switch, a casing, a plurality of stationary contacts mounted in the casing to lie in a common plane, an inclined pivoted lever in the casing movable toward and away from the plane of said contacts, a resistance element connected totwo of said contacts, flexible fingers on said switch lever each of which is adapted to engage a sta tionary contact and to engage therewith in succession as said lever is swung toward said contacts, means for normally and yieldably holding said lever away from said contacts, and an operating plunger slidable in a wall of said casing and pivotally connected with said lever.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

HARVEY H. WVADDELL. 

